Vacuum cleaner



C. E. NYBERG March 3, 1959 VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1955 @TZEQIZ ZZE BY 3 Q Q W v March 3, 1959 E. NYBERG 2,875,466

VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1955 x, i "I, I Iii (5. 11.522, 1 i

INVENTOR. Cu?" filz/ygg VACUUM CLEANER Curt E. Nyberg, Skokie, lll., assigno'r, by mesne assignments, to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application June 21, 1955, Serial No. 516,819

1 'Claim. (Cl. 15--325) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and particularly to a support for the motor and fan unit of a vacuum cleaner.

One of thefeatures of this invention is to provide an improved vacuumeleaner having a motor and fan unit and a: flexible, elastic, air impervious annular member attachable to this unit to resiliently support the unit and divide the casing of the vacuum cleaner into a low presstlrei suction 'zone between acasing air inlet opening and the unit and a high pressure air exhaust zone between the'unit and a casing air out let opening.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain embodimentsthereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings: H V

Fig. l is a side elevation partially in sections ofa vacuum cleaner embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the cleaner of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a portion of the cleaner of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through another portion of the cleaner of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through a second embodiment 'of the cleaner of this invention, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing this second embodiment of the invention.

The vacuum cleaner embodiment shown in Figs. 14 inclusive comprises a casing 10 made up of an upper casing portion 11 and a lower casing portion 12. These casing portions have inturned annular flanges 11a and 12a cooperating with each other so that the two casing portions 11 and 12 together define a cannister-shaped casing 10.

The upper casing portion 11 has a usual intake opening provided in the inlet fitting 13. This inlet fitting 13 is of the conventional type, and is adapted to retain the end of a flexible suction hose (not shown). The lower casing portion 12 is similarly provided with a similar outlet fitting 14, to which the hose can be attached when the cleaner is used as a blower. The usual opening in this outlet fitting 14 can also be employed as the outlet for the air flow during the cleaning operation.

Located within the casing 10 is a motor-fan unit 15 of the usual type, including a motor 16 at one end and a suction fan contained within a fan housing 17 at the opposite end. The motor and fan unit 15 is arranged substantially vertically. The lower finned end 18 is adjacent to a raised section 12b of the bottom of the lower casing portion 12. The fan housing 17 has the usual air inlet opening at the top thereof, with this air flowing through the fan, through the motor 16, and out the lower end of the unit. This construc- 2,875,466 Patented Main 3-, 1 9-59 '2 tion and operation of the motor and fan unitis purely conventional.

In addition, the motor and fan unit 15 is provided adjacent to the top thereof with an outwardly extending flange 15a. This flange extends around the unit. Positioned across the top of the fan housing 17 is a sheet of fabric felt 19 that is removably held in place by means of a rubber band 20. As is customary, the felt 19 operates as a safety feature to prevent dust entering the motor and fan unit 15. In constructions of this type a dirt-separating bag (not shown); preferably of paper, is attached to the inner endof the air inlet fitting 13, so that the dirt-laden air stream will pass through the bag. The dirt is retained in. the interior of the bag, and the air is drawn through-the motor and fan unit 15 in the cus tomary manner.

In order to support the motor and fan unit 15 within the casing 10, there isprovided a flexible, elastic,

air impervious annular diaphragm 21, preferably made of a rubbery material such as vulcanized naturalrubber. 21a provided with an inner groove 21b adapted to receive the outer edge of the flange 15a. As'can be seen in Fig. .1, this11'nner edge portion 21a, is relatively thick in vertical dimension 0n the side opposite. to the innergroove 21b,,there is provided a wider outer groove 210 that is adapted to receive a circular metal band 22." This band extends around the portion 21a and is held under tension by means of a bolt 23 extending between spaced outwardly finned ends1 on the band 22, as illustrated at 22a. The. bolt 23 is of the ordinary type provided with a head 23a and a nut, and the band is tightened by screwing the nut on the bolt to draw the ends 22a toward each other. This construction in operation is purely conventional, as bands of this type are used for many purposes.

The diaphragm 21 is also provided with an outer edge portion 21d adapted to be held between the flanges 11a and 12a of the casing portions 11 and 12. This outer edge portion 21d is provided on its upper surface with a plurality of spaced ribs 210.

The extreme outer edge of the diaphragm 21 is provided with a relatively thick portion 21g extending downwardly from the outer Portion 21d. The inner surface of this portion 21g is normally tapered downwardly and inwardly sothat this inner surface will tightly grip the outer surface of the lower casing portion 12 in the area adjacent to the flange 12a. This serves to hold the thick portion 21g, and thus the entire diaphragm 21, in place on the lower casing portion 12 when the upper casing portion 11 is removed therefrom.

The diaphragm 21 also has an intermediate portion 21h sloped inwardly and downwardly from the outer portion 21c toward the inner portion 21a.

The upper and lower casing portions 11 and 12 are attached on one side by means of a hinge 24 of customary construction. Thus the hinge includes a metal strap 25 attached to the upper casing portion 11 and a cooperating strap 26 attached to the lower casing portion 12, with the ends of these straps being circularly arranged to pass around a hinge pin 27.

The other side of the upper and lower casing portions 11 and 12 are releasably connected by means of an ordinary toggle catch 28. This catch includes a downwardly extending strap 29 attached to the bottom of the upper casing portion 11 and adapted to extend through an opening 211 in the outer portion 21g of the diaphragm 21 when the two casing portions are latched together. This This diaphragm 21 has. an inner edge portion' strap 29 is provided on its lower end with an outwardly turned flange 29a which is engaged by the catch- 28.

The upper casing portion 11 is provided with a handle 30. When it is desired to open up the vacuum cleaner, the catch 28- is released and the upper casing portion 11 is rotated about the hinge 24. Then when the casing portionsare closed, the upper casing portion is turned in the opposite direction about-the hinge 24 so that the strap 29 projects through the opening 21l and is grasped by the catch 28; 1

-Although such a support is not necessary, the lower end 1801? the motor and fan unit 15 may be supported by its own resilient mounting if desired. In the'embodiment shown,-this resilient mounting includes a rubber base 31 held in a metal bracket 32, with this rubber bracket including upwardly extending arms 32a having their-upper, ends covered by a rubber member 33 and end-turned to grasp the end member 18.

that-previously described.

there is molded the inner edge portion 121a of a flexible diaphragm '121. The openings 115b aid in connecting the flange 115a to the diaphragm.

The thick portion 121g of the diaphragm 121 is providedwith an inner recess 121b, in which is retaineda binding strap 34 similar in construction and operation to the strap :22. This binding strap 34, which is held in place by-a bolt 35extending between the ends -34a of the-strap, cooperates with an inturned groove 112a in thebottom casing portion 112. This strap 34 and thegrooveportion 112a aid in retaining the outer edge portionof the diaphragm 121 in position. Such an outer A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a casing including an upper part and a lower part having adjacent and cooperating edges extending inwardly; a motor andzfanunit within the casing but spaced therefrom having an outwardly extending flange around the unit extending toward the casing; a fiexible, elastic, air impervious annular diaphragm having an inner portion against said flange and an outer portion extending between said edges to the outer surface of the casing, the diaphragm having spaced flexible ribs-on: one surface bearing againstone of said .in-

ward'ly extending casing edges to support resiliently said upper part on said lower part, the outer portion of the diaphragm being provided with-a relatively heavy annular marginal sectionraround said" outer surface" serving as a bumper guard; and means attaching said inner por" tion ofthe diaphragm to said flange.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS 2,152,756 Billmyre Apr. 4, 1939 2,233,167 Holm-Hansen Feb. 25, 1941* 2,276,844 Helm-Hansen Mar. 17, 1942" 2,441,365 McAllister May 11,- 1948 2,516,707 Lewyt et al July 25,1950 2,771,151 Osborn; Nov. 20, 1956 Karlstrom Feb. 16,1937 

